There are two new Jungle Book adaptations being produced in Hollywood at the
moment – but will Disney or Warner Bros come out on top?

Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale have been announced to join a new Hollywood adaptation of The Jungle Book - but which one? There are two Jungle Book films currently in production from separate studios, and both have several impressive names attached.

The first new Jungle Book film due to hit screens is from Disney, and is set to arrive in October 2015. In the director’s chair is Iron Man’s Jon Favreau, whose film will be a blend of animation and live action. Mowgli, played by 10-year-old newcomer Neel Sethi, will be the only actor on-screen, but providing vocal support will be Idris Elba as Bengal tiger Shere Khan, Bill Murray as sloth bear Baloo, Christopher Walken as orangutan King Louie, Scarlett Johansson as hypnotic snake Kaa, Ben Kingsley as panther Bagheera, Lupita Nyong’o as Mowgli's wolf mother Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad’s Gus Fring) as wolf pack leader Akela - not a bad line-up.

The second film to arrive will be Warner Bros’ Jungle Book: Origins (we’re not keen on that subtitle either), due in October 2016. Though it trails Disney’s effort by a year, the film has an increasingly impressive team behind it. Jungle Book: Origins will mark Andy Serkis’s directorial debut, so it’s no surprise that the film will feature a mix of live action, CGI and motion capture (as seen in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes).

Rohan Chand will play Mowgli, following his appearances in Lone Survivor. The support cast brings serious pedigree - it is Warner Bros’ production for which Bale and Blanchett have just been announced as Bagheera and Kaa, respectively, joining the previously announced Benedict Cumberbatch as Shere Khan, and Naomie Harris as female wolf Nisha. The film will be produced by Steve Kloves (Harry Potter), while the tone of Serkis’ film is said to be darker than the animated Disney classic.